• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.642-655
• /
• 2013

In this study, semi-continuous measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ mass, organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), black carbon (BC), and ionic species concentrations were made for the period of April 03~13, 2012, at a South Area Supersite at Gwangju. Possible sources causing the high concentrations of major chemical species in $PM_{2.5}$ observed during a haze episode were investigated. The measurement results, along with meteorological parameters, gaseous pollutants data, air mass back trajectory analyses and PSCF (potential source contribution function) results, were used to study the haze episode. Substantial enhancements of OC, EC, BC, $K^+$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO{_3}{^-}$, $NH{_4}{^+}$, and CO concentrations were closely associated with air masses coming from regions of forest fires in southeastern China, suggesting likely an impact of the forest fires. Also the PSCF maps for EC, OC, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, and $K^+$ demonstrate further that the long-range transport of smoke plumes of forest fires detected over the southeastern China could be a possible source of haze phenomena observed at the site. Another possible source leading to haze formation was likely from photochemistry of precursor gases such as volatile organic compounds, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$, resulting in accumulation of secondary organic aerosol, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO{_3}{^-}$. Throughout the episode, local wind directions were between 200 and $230^{\circ}C$, where two industrial areas are situated, with moderate wind speeds of 3~5 m/s, resulting in highly elevated concentration of $SO_2$ with a maximum of 15 ppb. The $SO{_4}^{2-}$ peak occurring in the afternoon hours coincided with maximum ambient temperature ($24^{\circ}C$) and ozone concentration (~100 ppb), and were driven by photochemistry of $SO_2$. As a result, the pattern of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ variations in relation to wind direction, $SO_2$ and $O_3$ concentrations, and the strong correlation between $SO_2$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ ($R^2=0.76$) suggests that in addition to the impact of smoke plumes from forest fires in the southeastern China, local $SO_2$ emissions were likely an important source of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ leading to haze formation at the site.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.538-555
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to understand $PM_{2.5}$ chemical characteristics on the Suwon/Yongin area and further to quantitatively estimate $PM_{2.5}$ source contributions. The $PM_{2.5}$ sampling was carried out by a high-volume air sampler at the Kyung Hee University-Global Campus from November, 2010 to October, 2011. The 40 chemical species were then analyzed by using ICP-AES(Ag, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Ti, V and Zn), IC ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ and $Cl^-$), DRI/OGC (OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, OP, EC1, EC2 and EC3) and GC-FID (acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a] pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd] pyrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene and dibenzo[a,h,]anthracene). When applying PMF model after performing proper data treatment, a total of 10 sources was identified and their contributions were quantitatively estimated. The average contribution to $PM_{2.5}$ emitted from each source was determined as follows; 26.3% from secondary aerosol source, 15.5% from soil and road dust emission, 15.3% from vehicle emission, 15.3% from illegal biomass burning, 12.2% from incineration, 7.2% from oil combustion source, 4.9% from industrial related source, and finally 3.2% from coal combustion source. In this study we used the ratios of PAHs concentration as markers to double check whether the sources were reasonably classified or not. Finally we provided basic information on the major $PM_{2.5}$ sources in order to improve the air quality in the study area.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.201-208
• /
• 2011

Recently, a real-time, pocket-sized aethalometer (microAeth$^{(R)}$ model AE51) has been developed by Magee Scientific Inc. for measuring the concentration of black carbon in the atmosphere. In this study, two aethalometers, models AE-16 and AE-51, which measure the optical absorption of carbon particles at infrared 880 nm, were operated at time interval of 5-min between January 9 and February 10, 2010 at an urban site of Gwangju, to compare the accuracy of black carbon (BC) concentrations reported from the AE-51 model and to investigate reasonable sampling time of filter media in the AE-51. The air samples in the AE-51 and AE-16 models are collected on T60 (Teflon coated glass fiber) filter media (filter spot area: 0.07 $cm^2$) and quartz fiber roll-tape filter (filter spot area: 1.67 $cm^2$), respectively. Real-time measurement results indicate that when the filters were clean, the AE-51 BC was greater than or similar to the AE-16 BC data. However as the filter spots become darker, the AE-16 BC concentrations were higher than the AE-51 BC data and the difference in the BC concentrations from two AE models becomes gradually increased. Relative error in the AE-51 and AE-16 BC concentrations showed significance difference depending on used time of the filter in the AE-51 model, weather pattern, levels of air pollution, etc, ranging from 11.5% (used time of the filter in AE-51: 1,595 min) to 52.5% (used time of the filter in AE-51: 2,085 min). When considering the used time of one filter ticket in the AE-51 model and difference (or relative error %) between AE-16 and AE-51 BC concentrations, it is recommended that the standard sampling time per one filter ticket within the AE-51 model be less than approximately 24 hr (1,440 min) under the normal weather conditions except for severe haze and mist events.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.417-430
• /
• 2014

We have found an error in the operational OMI HCHO columns, and corrected it by applying a background parameterization derived on a 4th order polynomial fit to the time series of monthly average OMI HCHO data. The corrected OMI HCHO agrees with this understanding as well as with the other sensors measurements and has no unrealistic trends. A new scientific approach, statistical analyses with EOF and SVD, was adapted to reanalyze the consistency of the corrected OMI HCHO with other satellite measurements of HCHO, CO, $NO_2$, and fire counts over Africa. The EOF and SVD analyses with MOPITT CO, OMI $NO_2$, SCIAMAHCY, and OMI HCHO show the overall spatial and temporal pattern consistent with those of biomass burning over these regions. However, some discrepancies were observed from OMI HCHO over northern equatorial Africa during the northern biomass burning seasons: The maximum HCHO was found further downwind from where maximum fire counts occur and the minimum was found in January when biomass burning is strongest. The statistical analysis revealed that the influence of biogenic activity on HCHO wasn't strong enough to cause the discrepancies, but it is caused by the error in OMI HCHO from using the wrong Air Mass Factor (AMF) associated with biomass burning aerosol. If the error is properly taken into consideration, the biomass burning is the strongest source of HCHO seasonality over the regions. This study suggested that the statistical tools are a very efficient method for evaluating satellite data.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.469-484
• /
• 2016

HR-ToF-AMS was applied for a seasonal and size-distributional measurements for inorganic ($SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, $NH_4{^+}$, $Cl^-$) and organic components in Baegryung Island Super Site. The average concentration of $PM_{1.0}$ remarks $12.9{\mu}g/m^3$ while $14.5{\mu}g/m^3$ in Spring time, $14.2{\mu}g/m^3$ in Winter, $13.1{\mu}g/m^3$ in Summer and $9.86{\mu}g/m^3$ in Autumn. The mass of measured $PM_{1.0}$ shows 54.6% of $PM_{2.5}$ which is similar to those of Beijing and Lanzhou, China. The highest portion of Chemical composition is $SO{_4}^{2-}$ marking 41.0%, 31.8% by organics, 13.5% by $NH_4{^+}$, 12.8% by $NO_3{^-}$ and 1% by $Cl^-$. In every seasons, except winter, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ remarks the highest level, organic components take place the highest in winter time. The size-distribution of $PM_{1.0}$ components scattered at accumulation mode of 200 nm~800 nm which means the influence of primary emission is low. In case of air stream from the industrialized area of Sandung, Shanghai, China, the concentrations of such components were distributed a bit higher.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.53-66
• /
• 2012

A comparison of analytical approaches for Levoglucosan ($C_6H_{10}O_5$, commonly formed from the pyrolysis of carbohydrates such as cellulose) and used for a molecular marker in biomass burning is made between the four different analytical systems. 1) Spectrothermography technique as the evaluation of thermograms of carbon using Elemental Carbon & Organic Carbon Analyzer, 2) mass spectrometry technique using Gas Chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), 3) Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) for the identification of the particle size distribution and chemical composition, and 4) two dimensional Gas Chromatography with Time of Flight mass spectrometry (GC${\times}$GC-TOFMS) for defining the signature of Levoglucosan in terms of chemical analytical process. First, a Spectrothermography, which is defined as the graphical representation of the carbon, can be measured as a function of temperature during the thermal separation process and spectrothermographic analysis. GC/MS can detect mass fragment ions of Levoglucosan characterized by its base peak at m/z 60, 73 in mass fragment-grams by methylation and m/z 217, 204 by trimethylsilylderivatives (TMS-derivatives). AMS can be used to analyze the base peak at m/z 60.021, 73.029 in mass fragment-grams with a multiple-peak Gaussian curve fit algorithm. In the analysis of TMS derivatives by GC${\times}$GC-TOFMS, it can detect m/z 73 as the base ion for the identification of Levoglucosan. It can also observe m/z 217 and 204 with existence of m/z 333. Although the ratios of m/z 217 and m/z 204 to the base ion (m/z 73) in the mass spectrum of GC${\times}$GC-TOFMS lower than those of GC/MS, Levoglucosan can be separated and characterized from D (-) +Ribose in the mixture of sugar compounds. At last, the environmental significance of Levoglucosan will be discussed with respect to the health effect to offer important opportunities for clinical and potential epidemiological research for reducing incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.237-250
• /
• 2013

At Gosan ABC superstation in Jeju Island, we measured organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in $PM_{2.5}$ from October 2009 to June 2010 using a Sunset Laboratory Model-4 Semi-Continuous OC/EC Field Analyzer. It employs TOT (Thermal-Optical-Transmittance) method with NIOSH 5040 protocol and enables to continuously monitor OC and EC concentrations with 1-hour time resolution. The mean values of OC and EC for the entire period of measurements were $2.1{\pm}1.4{\mu}g/m^3$ and $0.7{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The OC/EC ratio was 3 and EC accounted $25{\pm}2.1%$ of total carbon (TC, TC=OC+EC). Although OC and EC showed similar trend in seasonal variation, the ratio of OC to EC was the highest in early summer when temperature was the highest and the air was affected by biomass burning in the southern part of China. In winter, the high OC and EC concentrations were likely influenced by increased coal combustion from residential heating. The high OC and EC concentrations were observed during events such as haze, dust, and the combination of the two. During the haze events, OC and EC were enhanced with increase in $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$ with broad maxima. When dust occurred, both OC and EC started decreasing after reaching their maxima a couple of hours before $PM_{10}$ maximum. The peak separation of carbonaceous species and aerosol masses with time was more noticeable when haze event was followed by dust plume. These results confirm that OC and EC are key components of haze occurring in the study region.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.303-312
• /
• 2011

Data on the energy usage including biomass, emissions of air pollutants ($SO_x$, $NO_x$, CO), and the air quality in North Korea are analyzed. The energy usage in North Korea has decreased in the 1990s and thus, the emission amount of air pollutants. Coal and biomass constitute a major fraction of energy sources since the 1990s. It is identified that the emission amount of air pollutants per unit energy consumption in North Korea is much higher than South Korea for the period data are available (since 1990) implying that the air pollutant emission management system in North Korea is inadequate. In particular, the amount of biomass burning for household cooking and heating is significant with the huge emissions of air pollutants such as CO and organic species both in the gas and aerosol phase. Furthermore, it is found that the existing energy usage and air pollutant emission data are not consistent in biomass burning related data.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.411-423
• /
• 2017

The spacial potential source contribution function (PSCF) method was utilized by considering topography and height of back trajectories based on the measurement of organic typo matter (OM), $NO_3{^-}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$ at the Baegryungdo Super Site ($37^{\circ}57^{\prime}N$, $124^{\circ}37^{\prime}E$, 135 m a.s.l. (above sea level)) for three selected periods (i.e., January~April, May~August, and September~December) in 2013. The PSCF were calculated on the contributions of trans-boundary transport to the hourly mean concentrations using a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS). The cluster analysis using back trajectories was performed to identify the major airflows to the sampling site. The upper atmosphere in the Tianjin area of China and the lower atmosphere in the western coast area of Korea can be the major source of trans-boundary pollution to the sampling site during January~April resulted from PSCF. The area in Lianyungang-city and Liaoning-sheng, China can be responsibile for the nitrogen related secondary compounds during May~August, and Shandong Peninsula in China is the major source area during September~December. In addition, relationships between the cluster analysis of back trajectories and PSCF were investigated for the statistically significance level for the source areas.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.727-734
• /
• 2018

In this study, real-time absorption coefficients of carbonaceous species in $PM_{2.5}$ was observed using a dual-spot 7-wavelength Aethalometer between November 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017 at an urban site of Gwangju. In addition, 24-hr integrated $PM_{2.5}$ samples were simultaneously collected at the same site and analyzed for organic carbon and elemental carbon (OC and EC) using the thermal-optical transmittance protocol. A main objective of this study was to estimate mass absorption cross section (MAC) values of black carbon (BC) particles at the study site using the linear regression between aethalometer-based absorption coefficient and filter-based EC concentration. BC particles observed at 880 nm is mainly emitted from combustion of fossil fuels, and their concentration is typically reported as equivalent BC concentration (eBC). eBC concentration calculated using MAC value of $7.77m^2/g$ at wavelength of 880 nm, which was proposed by a manufacturer, ranged from 0.3 to $7.4{\mu}g/m^3$ with an average value of $1.9{\pm}1.2{\mu}g/m^3$, accounting for 7.3% (1.5~20.9%) of $PM_{2.5}$. The relationship between aerosol absorption coefficients at 880 nm and EC concentrations provided BC MAC value of $15.2m^2/g$, ranging from 11.4 to $16.2m^2/g$. The eBC concentrations calculated using the estimated MAC of $15.2m^2/g$ were significantly lower than those reported originally from aethalometer, and ranged from 0.2 to $3.8{\mu}g/m^3$, with an average of $1.0{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/m^3$, accounting for 3.7% of $PM_{2.5}$ (0.8~10.7%). Result from this study suggests that if the MAC value recommended by the manufacturer is applied to calculate the equivalent BC concentration and radiative forcing due to BC absorption, they would result in significant errors, implying investigation of an unique MAC value of BC particles at a study site.